Sam Vara wrote:That's really heartwarming stuff. Sadly, in my country it would be difficult for men on their own to intervene, because of the widespread fear of being thought to be a paedophile.

Also true in America.

I fear to look in the general direction of a playground, not because I have any ill intention, but because the Ignorance and Fear of the parents is so strong, the first assumption in their minds is that I must be a danger to their child.

Little do they know, we condition our own fates.

The world is isolating itself through fear and Ignorance. It's very apparent in America, where people simply don't interact with one another at all, unless they absolutely have to.

*Shrug*

I'm sure the Apocalypse will sort it out. Just as soon as we get these World Wars underway....

These sort of social experiments always make me feel uncomfortable. People are lying and deceiving each other in the name of social science. At least this one worked out well, unlike Milgram or Stanford.

david.sojourn wrote:

Sam Vara wrote:That's really heartwarming stuff. Sadly, in my country it would be difficult for men on their own to intervene, because of the widespread fear of being thought to be a paedophile.

Also true in America.

I fear to look in the general direction of a playground, not because I have any ill intention, but because the Ignorance and Fear of the parents is so strong, the first assumption in their minds is that I must be a danger to their child.

Little do they know, we condition our own fates.

The world is isolating itself through fear and Ignorance. It's very apparent in America, where people simply don't interact with one another at all, unless they absolutely have to.

*Shrug*

I'm sure the Apocalypse will sort it out. Just as soon as we get these World Wars underway....

santa100 wrote:That's good work too. The suffering due to neglect and loneliness old people are facing in Western world's nursing homes is just as terrible as the hunger of children in other parts of the world..

With an ageing population in the west it's only to get more difficult. Here in the UK there are regularly news stories about abuse of older people. Part of the problem I think is that care workers have very low status, minimum wage, etc.

santa100 wrote:That's good work too. The suffering due to neglect and loneliness old people are facing in Western world's nursing homes is just as terrible as the hunger of children in other parts of the world..

Most hungry African children are probably more than ready to move to a first world nursing home, while very, very few inmates of first world nursing homes would be ready to move to a roadside in Africa and sleep below the floor of a small shop... not to speak of too little food, dirty water, constant threat of getting abused and/or killed... not to speak of neglect and loneliness beyond (obviously) your imagination.

You compare two things as unequal as dying of boredom and dying of hunger.

martinfrank wrote:Most hungry African children are probably more than ready to move to a first world nursing home, while very, very few inmates of first world nursing homes would be ready to move to a roadside in Africa and sleep below the floor of a small shop... not to speak of too little food, dirty water, constant threat of getting abused and/or killed... not to speak of neglect and loneliness beyond (obviously) your imagination.

You compare two things as unequal as dying of boredom and dying of hunger.

Well, if you see it that way, you can always try my original option with charitynavigator.org then..

Back when I was a younger man, I was once approached by a boy who looked to be about 11 years old. He asked me if I could give some money. I guess I was a bit naive at the time, and was sincerely taken aback, saying "don't you have anyone to take care of you?" to which he just shook his head. I have never forgotten how, looking at his outstretched hand, I noticed it was virtually blackened with dirt. I thought to myself, "can someone this young really just be living on the streets, and be neglected as much as this?" I gave him what I felt I could afford at the time, and went on my way. After I got onto my train, he seemed to want to ask me something else, as though my dismay at his situation made him feel cared for, just for a moment, but then the train left. I still think of him from time to time, and hope that he ended up being able to get a decent education, and a more stable life than what he was experiencing back then. I've never forgotten that outstretched hand, blacked with dirt and grime, and the look in his eyes attempting to hide his vulnerability behind a veneer of tough indifference.

Then the Blessed One, picking up a tiny bit of dust with the tip of his fingernail, said to the monk, "There isn't even this much form...feeling...perception...fabrications...consciousness that is constant, lasting, eternal, not subject to change, that will stay just as it is as long as eternity." (SN 22.97)

Martin, it was very kind that you mentioned, www.waikhru.com, above. This is an effort that I started some years ago, and each year bring funds over to the Golden Horse Temple, and Khru Baa. This year, I had raised funds to provide Muay Thai gear for the children, which I delivered earlier this year, as well as to send funds to contribute to Khru Baa's medical expenses, after his (moderate) stroke this year. But, what I have done is a tiny, tiny drop in the bucket. I only wish there were more full fledged efforts to raise funds for his Wat. One approach is for people on Facebook to link to https://www.facebook.com/goldenhorsemonastery . The author of this Facebook page is connected with the Golden Horse Temple, and I believe is a relative of Khru Baa. I feel that if more people know of Khru Baa and his work rescuing children from the areas around Chiang Rai, Thailand, they'd want to help. The funding for feeding and caring for the children comes through daily dana, and an account set up through the regional Thai Sangha, along with other sources.

I've been to his Wat a number of times. It's an experience any visitor to Northern Thailand should experience. He's the real deal, and the other monks, nuns and the kids there are amazing. People from around the world visit to provide dana and to visit with Khru Baa and the Wat.

I didn't mean to toot my own horn...it's very nice that you found the site amidst the millions of websites out there. I've been lucky from my vocation to earn some excess funds beyond what is needed for a simple life, and try to give back a bit. Again, drops of water in the ocean. I'm crazy enough to hope that with time, I can do more to raise funds for issues of interest to me ( anti-sex trafficking in Thailand, medical equipment to the new Fang, Thailand hospital) through various projects.